personal.Stuff


alexpicabout.me

Here is where the hype takes over.
Most recently,  I was the president of the security business unit for GFI Software, subsequent to the acquistion of Sunbelt Software in 2010, where I was its CEO for eight years. 

Sunbelt Software  was a leading provider of security software for the Windows market, with 2010 revenues of $44 million -- and is probably best known for its VIPRE antivirus product. While at Sunbelt, I profitably grew the company over 350% on a self-funded basis, providing our investors  with a 135% internal rate of return. 

I am now working on my next project.

I'm actively involved in the software security area and wrote a blog, sunbeltblog.  I speak on security issues fairly often, and have been interviewed for national publications, radio and television, including appearences on Good Morning America and CBC Canada.  I have also  keynoted the VirusBulletin conference.  
In 2006, Google was kind enough to thank a number of security folks and me for work on Google security; and I also co-founded PIRT, the Phishing Incident and Termination squad, the largest all-volunteer group that performs "takedowns" of phishing sites.  I was also deeply involved in getting a very nice lady out of going to prison and subsequently was part of the founding of the JulieGroup, an organization dedicated to seeking fairness in the intersection of law and technology.

From 1999 to 2002, I was a managing director at Bulldog Capital Management, an investment management firm with peak assets of $1.4 billion.  At Bulldog, I co-managed the firm's private equity activities.  As a private equity investor, I worked on investments in a  wide range of private companies, including Vendio, Acta Technology, Vina Technology, Achex (acquired by First Data), YouCentric (acquired by J.D. Edwards) and T.sqware (acquired by Globespan). While at Bulldog, I developed capabilities in the areas of private equity deal structure, capitalization and distressed/crisis situations.  

Prior to joining Bulldog, I was the executive vice president for Mijenix Corporation, a developer of Windows software, from 1997 to 1999.  We achieved over 700% profitable revenue growth in two and a half years, as a fully self-funded effort, leading to the successful sale of the company to Ontrack Data International (NASDAQ: ONDI) in 1999.  I was responsible for launching several award-winning products, including a PC Week Best of Comdex Winner (1998).   

Prior to Mijenix, I was vice president of worldwide marketing for  publicly-traded Quarterdeck Corporation (now part of Symantec) from 1990 to 1997. My prior positions included being the VP and general manager for the utilities business unit.  As the business unit manager, I managed one of the company's most successful business units with over $40 million in revenue,  achieving growth through acquisition, product development and product licensing. I directed the marketing and development direction of the company's utility software, launching several products, including CleanSweep, QEMM, MagnaRAM, WINProbe, GameRunner and Hijaak Pro.  

From 1988 to 1990, I worked for multimedia software developer Aegis Development (later known as Oxxi). While there, I launched several products, including Showcase F/X, a professional multimedia system for the Macintosh; SpectraColor, a 16-bit paint and animation system; and Animagic, an animation control system.    

I started my software career at Borland International in 1987.   

I have also served on the board of advisors at startup Cybermedia Corporation, where I advised the company on its initial marketing direction.  The company successfully went public in 1996 and was acquired by Network Associates in 1998.   I am also a past member of the board of directors for VitalStream, Inc..

Due to a peripatetic childhood, I have a rather eclectic educational background. I attended Ecole Bilingue in Paris, Bjorns International School in Copenhagen, Hollywood Professional School in Los Angeles, and was one of the first students at SOCES, one of the early progressive magnet schools in Los Angeles. Originally trained as a classical musician, I studied piano at the Feninger/Brooks studio and baroque classical music at the Early Music Institute, both in Los Angeles. I also studied chemistry at the California Institute of Technology as a teenager and later attended Eckerd College, studying for a major in Business Management.

I was born in Paris, France to American parents and live with my wife and four children in the Tampa Bay area of Florida.  

Alex Eckelberry
Wikipedia